Willow Neal 🏳️🌈
@willowneal.bsky.social
Conservation ecologist and butterfly researcher (They/Them)
https://www.open.ac.uk/people/bn925
https://www5.open.ac.uk/scholarship-and-innovation/esteem/projects/themes/access-participation-and-success/evaluating-lgbtq-awarding-gap-and-supporting-our
https://www.open.ac.uk/people/bn925
https://www5.open.ac.uk/scholarship-and-innovation/esteem/projects/themes/access-participation-and-success/evaluating-lgbtq-awarding-gap-and-supporting-our
Pinned
Influence of canopy structural complexity on urban woodland butterfly species richness - Journal of Insect Conservation
As urban land use expands, understanding the conservation of biodiversity in urban settings becomes increasingly important. Urban areas contain a wide range of remnant natural, semi-natural and anthro...
doi.org
Altmetric is tracking Bluesky now eh… I’ll just leave this here doi.org/10.1007/s108... #butterfly #conservation #ecology #urbanecology
Reposted by Willow Neal 🏳️🌈
Watson was deeply influential to me as a genomicist, but not how you may assume
From stealing Rosalind Franklin's lab notes to his frequent sexist & racist bioessentialist comments later in life, he showed how the scientific community would still worship a terrible person
Don't idolize bad people
From stealing Rosalind Franklin's lab notes to his frequent sexist & racist bioessentialist comments later in life, he showed how the scientific community would still worship a terrible person
Don't idolize bad people
BREAKING: James Watson, co-discoverer of DNA’s double helix whose work reshaped medicine, forensics and genetics, dies at 97.
James Watson, co-discoverer of the double-helix shape of DNA, has died at age 97
Scientist James Watson, who shared a Nobel prize for helping discover the double-helix shape of the DNA molecule, has died. He was 97.
bit.ly
November 7, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Watson was deeply influential to me as a genomicist, but not how you may assume
From stealing Rosalind Franklin's lab notes to his frequent sexist & racist bioessentialist comments later in life, he showed how the scientific community would still worship a terrible person
Don't idolize bad people
From stealing Rosalind Franklin's lab notes to his frequent sexist & racist bioessentialist comments later in life, he showed how the scientific community would still worship a terrible person
Don't idolize bad people
Reposted by Willow Neal 🏳️🌈
🤔 ‘One day it struck me that the world would be a very different place if environmental crimes were treated in the same way as murders. So, why aren’t they? And should they be?’
#ecocidelaw #greencrime
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...
#ecocidelaw #greencrime
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...
Should we treat environmental crime more like murder?
Serial killers and violent criminals dominate the headlines. What if we covered ecocide and pollution in the same way?
www.theguardian.com
October 25, 2025 at 10:44 AM
🤔 ‘One day it struck me that the world would be a very different place if environmental crimes were treated in the same way as murders. So, why aren’t they? And should they be?’
#ecocidelaw #greencrime
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...
#ecocidelaw #greencrime
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...
Reposted by Willow Neal 🏳️🌈
The Government has tabled 67 last-minute amendments to the Planning & Infrastructure Bill.‼️
Rushed through with little scrutiny, it’s a shambolic way to reform the planning system.
It creates confusion, sidelines science and leaves nature dangerously exposed.
(1/3)
Rushed through with little scrutiny, it’s a shambolic way to reform the planning system.
It creates confusion, sidelines science and leaves nature dangerously exposed.
(1/3)
October 14, 2025 at 12:04 PM
The Government has tabled 67 last-minute amendments to the Planning & Infrastructure Bill.‼️
Rushed through with little scrutiny, it’s a shambolic way to reform the planning system.
It creates confusion, sidelines science and leaves nature dangerously exposed.
(1/3)
Rushed through with little scrutiny, it’s a shambolic way to reform the planning system.
It creates confusion, sidelines science and leaves nature dangerously exposed.
(1/3)
Reposted by Willow Neal 🏳️🌈
We're excited to welcome our Oct #OUGradSch25 PhD cohort to campus today! We can’t wait to hear about their research journeys.
On Fri, we’ll also welcome Professional Doctorate students.
Also welcome to the first PhD by Distance Learning cohort!
@oulibrary.bsky.social @openuniversity.bsky.social
On Fri, we’ll also welcome Professional Doctorate students.
Also welcome to the first PhD by Distance Learning cohort!
@oulibrary.bsky.social @openuniversity.bsky.social
September 30, 2025 at 2:20 PM
We're excited to welcome our Oct #OUGradSch25 PhD cohort to campus today! We can’t wait to hear about their research journeys.
On Fri, we’ll also welcome Professional Doctorate students.
Also welcome to the first PhD by Distance Learning cohort!
@oulibrary.bsky.social @openuniversity.bsky.social
On Fri, we’ll also welcome Professional Doctorate students.
Also welcome to the first PhD by Distance Learning cohort!
@oulibrary.bsky.social @openuniversity.bsky.social
Reposted by Willow Neal 🏳️🌈
PhD researcher Elaine Hooton is shining a spotlight on geodiversity and calling for a shift in how we talk about the non-living foundations of our planet. Elaine shared this inspiring photo of geodiversity in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco.
Read more 👉 research.open.ac.uk/news/giving-...
Read more 👉 research.open.ac.uk/news/giving-...
September 22, 2025 at 10:01 AM
PhD researcher Elaine Hooton is shining a spotlight on geodiversity and calling for a shift in how we talk about the non-living foundations of our planet. Elaine shared this inspiring photo of geodiversity in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco.
Read more 👉 research.open.ac.uk/news/giving-...
Read more 👉 research.open.ac.uk/news/giving-...
Reposted by Willow Neal 🏳️🌈
The far right turnout today is much smaller than the number of people who came to protest at London Trans Pride this year, but the far right will of course get infinitely more press coverage.
September 13, 2025 at 10:54 AM
The far right turnout today is much smaller than the number of people who came to protest at London Trans Pride this year, but the far right will of course get infinitely more press coverage.
Reposted by Willow Neal 🏳️🌈
My governing body, the British Psychological Society (@bpsofficial.bsky.social) is also highly critical of the EHRC Code of Practice.
Thank you, BPS, for making this public statement.
www.bps.org.uk/psychologist...
Thank you, BPS, for making this public statement.
www.bps.org.uk/psychologist...
September 10, 2025 at 7:37 AM
My governing body, the British Psychological Society (@bpsofficial.bsky.social) is also highly critical of the EHRC Code of Practice.
Thank you, BPS, for making this public statement.
www.bps.org.uk/psychologist...
Thank you, BPS, for making this public statement.
www.bps.org.uk/psychologist...
Reposted by Willow Neal 🏳️🌈
📣 New research, including @savebutterflies.bsky.social #citizenscience data, shows winners & losers across >1200 insect species in Britain since 1990. Urbanisation identified as major driver of decline for moths, ladybirds & hoverflies www.nature.com/articles/s41... 🌍 🦋🐞🦗🪲🐝
September 3, 2025 at 4:44 PM
📣 New research, including @savebutterflies.bsky.social #citizenscience data, shows winners & losers across >1200 insect species in Britain since 1990. Urbanisation identified as major driver of decline for moths, ladybirds & hoverflies www.nature.com/articles/s41... 🌍 🦋🐞🦗🪲🐝
Reposted by Willow Neal 🏳️🌈
Reposted by Willow Neal 🏳️🌈
New PhD position: Butterfly Conservation Genomics 🦋
The project focuses on threatened butterflies in Czech dry grasslands and steppes.
Deadline: September 12, 2025
More info: pavelmatos.wordpress.com/join-us/
The project focuses on threatened butterflies in Czech dry grasslands and steppes.
Deadline: September 12, 2025
More info: pavelmatos.wordpress.com/join-us/
Join us
Opportunities Below are the positions currently open in our lab. PhD position (full-time doctoral funding) We are seeking a highly motivated PhD student to join our team. The goal of the project is…
pavelmatos.wordpress.com
August 19, 2025 at 8:18 AM
New PhD position: Butterfly Conservation Genomics 🦋
The project focuses on threatened butterflies in Czech dry grasslands and steppes.
Deadline: September 12, 2025
More info: pavelmatos.wordpress.com/join-us/
The project focuses on threatened butterflies in Czech dry grasslands and steppes.
Deadline: September 12, 2025
More info: pavelmatos.wordpress.com/join-us/
Reposted by Willow Neal 🏳️🌈
Beautiful Marbled (Eublemma purpurina) and what a stunning little moth.
The stand out moth in the moth trap last night in North East Essex.
@moths.uk
#teammoths
@bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social
#savebutterflies
#irecord
The stand out moth in the moth trap last night in North East Essex.
@moths.uk
#teammoths
@bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social
#savebutterflies
#irecord
August 10, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Beautiful Marbled (Eublemma purpurina) and what a stunning little moth.
The stand out moth in the moth trap last night in North East Essex.
@moths.uk
#teammoths
@bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social
#savebutterflies
#irecord
The stand out moth in the moth trap last night in North East Essex.
@moths.uk
#teammoths
@bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social
#savebutterflies
#irecord
Reposted by Willow Neal 🏳️🌈
A meta-analysis found that high-density managed honeybee populations can:
👉disrupt local biodiversity🌏
👉reduce pollinator richness🧪
👉alter plant-pollinator relationships🐝
...all with minimal benefits to crop yields!
Calls for evidence-based hive density guidelines 📑
🔗 doi.org/10.1111/1365...
👉disrupt local biodiversity🌏
👉reduce pollinator richness🧪
👉alter plant-pollinator relationships🐝
...all with minimal benefits to crop yields!
Calls for evidence-based hive density guidelines 📑
🔗 doi.org/10.1111/1365...
August 6, 2025 at 7:25 AM
A meta-analysis found that high-density managed honeybee populations can:
👉disrupt local biodiversity🌏
👉reduce pollinator richness🧪
👉alter plant-pollinator relationships🐝
...all with minimal benefits to crop yields!
Calls for evidence-based hive density guidelines 📑
🔗 doi.org/10.1111/1365...
👉disrupt local biodiversity🌏
👉reduce pollinator richness🧪
👉alter plant-pollinator relationships🐝
...all with minimal benefits to crop yields!
Calls for evidence-based hive density guidelines 📑
🔗 doi.org/10.1111/1365...
Perils of relying on AI in #research: just had an algorithm tell me that it has heard a Great #Bittern in the courtyard of the OU campus with 92% confidence. I can see why it’s made that assumption cos the car it’s picked up going over a speed bump does sound a little bit like booming!
July 29, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Reposted by Willow Neal 🏳️🌈
I did a #BigButterflyCount earlier and almost all the butterflies vanished but just now this happened! I’m guessing one female and a lot of males? Never seen so many together in the garden. @savebutterflies.bsky.social
July 24, 2025 at 3:28 PM
I did a #BigButterflyCount earlier and almost all the butterflies vanished but just now this happened! I’m guessing one female and a lot of males? Never seen so many together in the garden. @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Reposted by Willow Neal 🏳️🌈
Are butterflies doing better this year? Yes! ✅
Is that a good thing for nature? Yes! ✅
Do I put a downer on some positive butterfly news? Yes! ✅ (sorry)
theconversation.com/why-the-uks-...
#butterflies #nature #bugsky 🌍
Is that a good thing for nature? Yes! ✅
Do I put a downer on some positive butterfly news? Yes! ✅ (sorry)
theconversation.com/why-the-uks-...
#butterflies #nature #bugsky 🌍
Why the UK’s butterflies are booming in 2025
Following on from ‘the year without a butterfly’, 2025 has seen sightings soar in the UK and across Europe.
theconversation.com
July 17, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Are butterflies doing better this year? Yes! ✅
Is that a good thing for nature? Yes! ✅
Do I put a downer on some positive butterfly news? Yes! ✅ (sorry)
theconversation.com/why-the-uks-...
#butterflies #nature #bugsky 🌍
Is that a good thing for nature? Yes! ✅
Do I put a downer on some positive butterfly news? Yes! ✅ (sorry)
theconversation.com/why-the-uks-...
#butterflies #nature #bugsky 🌍
It’s rained pretty much constantly since I wrote this. Good news!
Are butterflies doing better this year? Yes! ✅
Is that a good thing for nature? Yes! ✅
Do I put a downer on some positive butterfly news? Yes! ✅ (sorry)
theconversation.com/why-the-uks-...
#butterflies #nature #bugsky 🌍
Is that a good thing for nature? Yes! ✅
Do I put a downer on some positive butterfly news? Yes! ✅ (sorry)
theconversation.com/why-the-uks-...
#butterflies #nature #bugsky 🌍
Why the UK’s butterflies are booming in 2025
Following on from ‘the year without a butterfly’, 2025 has seen sightings soar in the UK and across Europe.
theconversation.com
July 22, 2025 at 12:39 PM
It’s rained pretty much constantly since I wrote this. Good news!
Reposted by Willow Neal 🏳️🌈
Tomorrow is the day! 🦋🎉
It’s the start of the Big Butterfly Count.
Between the 18 July - 10 August, spend 15 minutes recording the butterflies that you see.
1️⃣ Download the Big Butterfly Count App
2️⃣ Register
3️⃣ Get Recording
#savebutterflies #bigbutterflycount
It’s the start of the Big Butterfly Count.
Between the 18 July - 10 August, spend 15 minutes recording the butterflies that you see.
1️⃣ Download the Big Butterfly Count App
2️⃣ Register
3️⃣ Get Recording
#savebutterflies #bigbutterflycount
July 17, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Tomorrow is the day! 🦋🎉
It’s the start of the Big Butterfly Count.
Between the 18 July - 10 August, spend 15 minutes recording the butterflies that you see.
1️⃣ Download the Big Butterfly Count App
2️⃣ Register
3️⃣ Get Recording
#savebutterflies #bigbutterflycount
It’s the start of the Big Butterfly Count.
Between the 18 July - 10 August, spend 15 minutes recording the butterflies that you see.
1️⃣ Download the Big Butterfly Count App
2️⃣ Register
3️⃣ Get Recording
#savebutterflies #bigbutterflycount
Are butterflies doing better this year? Yes! ✅
Is that a good thing for nature? Yes! ✅
Do I put a downer on some positive butterfly news? Yes! ✅ (sorry)
theconversation.com/why-the-uks-...
#butterflies #nature #bugsky 🌍
Is that a good thing for nature? Yes! ✅
Do I put a downer on some positive butterfly news? Yes! ✅ (sorry)
theconversation.com/why-the-uks-...
#butterflies #nature #bugsky 🌍
Why the UK’s butterflies are booming in 2025
Following on from ‘the year without a butterfly’, 2025 has seen sightings soar in the UK and across Europe.
theconversation.com
July 17, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Are butterflies doing better this year? Yes! ✅
Is that a good thing for nature? Yes! ✅
Do I put a downer on some positive butterfly news? Yes! ✅ (sorry)
theconversation.com/why-the-uks-...
#butterflies #nature #bugsky 🌍
Is that a good thing for nature? Yes! ✅
Do I put a downer on some positive butterfly news? Yes! ✅ (sorry)
theconversation.com/why-the-uks-...
#butterflies #nature #bugsky 🌍
Reposted by Willow Neal 🏳️🌈
No more Beewashing please! Why beekeeping doesn't help conserve bees. Pls RT if you agree.
youtu.be/fiBYBmlKSYU
youtu.be/fiBYBmlKSYU
No More Beewashing! Why beekeeping doesn't help conserve bees.
YouTube video by Dave Goulson
youtu.be
July 17, 2025 at 3:04 PM
No more Beewashing please! Why beekeeping doesn't help conserve bees. Pls RT if you agree.
youtu.be/fiBYBmlKSYU
youtu.be/fiBYBmlKSYU
It’s a privilege to look outside my office window and see so many #butterflies! #bugsky 🌍
July 8, 2025 at 5:35 PM
It’s a privilege to look outside my office window and see so many #butterflies! #bugsky 🌍
June 29, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Perfect weather for #butterflies, they’re everywhere today!
June 27, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Perfect weather for #butterflies, they’re everywhere today!
Reposted by Willow Neal 🏳️🌈
The Open University interviewed me for their Meet the Student feature! Learn more about pursuing a PhD in Creative Writing, and about my new book: www.linkedin.com/pulse/novel-...
A novel approach to a PhD
“A gripping mystery and a spellbinding love story. A hidden maze with secrets in its walls.
www.linkedin.com
June 10, 2025 at 11:57 AM
The Open University interviewed me for their Meet the Student feature! Learn more about pursuing a PhD in Creative Writing, and about my new book: www.linkedin.com/pulse/novel-...
Was recently in Paris and saw a large wall brown butterfly (I think!). It was in the kitchen garden of this amazing hamlet at Versailles. Lovely to see a new species in the wild!
June 4, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Was recently in Paris and saw a large wall brown butterfly (I think!). It was in the kitchen garden of this amazing hamlet at Versailles. Lovely to see a new species in the wild!
I’ve finally submitted my #PhD thesis about urban woodland #butterflies! It has been one of the most challenging but fulfilling experience of my life. The past year being especially difficult, but I would do it over again… just so happens that I never have to!! @ougradsch.bsky.social
May 27, 2025 at 3:48 PM
I’ve finally submitted my #PhD thesis about urban woodland #butterflies! It has been one of the most challenging but fulfilling experience of my life. The past year being especially difficult, but I would do it over again… just so happens that I never have to!! @ougradsch.bsky.social